The Bergen International Festival

Bergen takes justifiable pride in its performing arts, especially during the Festspillene i Bergen (Bergen International Festival; t55 21 06 30, wfib.no), held over two weeks at the end of May and the beginning of June, and presenting an extensive programme of music, ballet, folklore and theatre. The principal venue for the festival is the Grieghallen, on Edvard Griegs plass, where you can pick up programmes, tickets and information; these are also available from the tourist office. The city’s contemporary arts centre, the USF Verftet Kulturhuset, down on the Nordnes peninsula (t55 30 74 10, wusf.no), contributes to the festival by hosting Nattjazz (t55 30 72 50, wnattjazz.no), a prestigious and long-established international jazz festival held over the same period.